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The Dallas Mavericks are set to open the 2025-2026 NBA season against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, October 22. The Mavericks had the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and the first game of the season marks the regular-season debut of Cooper Flagg.
Dallas will look to take advantage of a clean slate after last year’s midseason trade of Luka Doncic. Flagg has high expectations, especially given the injury to Kyrie Irving, which is expected to sideline him until the start of the 2026 season. Flagg will match up against Devin Vassell for San Antonio, but will likely also see plenty of Harrison Barnes and Victor Wembanyama when he goes down low.
The Sporting News is tracking Flagg’s stats and highlights from his debut.
STREAM: Watch Cooper Flagg’s debut live on Fubo (free trial)
Mavericks vs. Spurs score
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Cooper Flagg stats vs. Spurs
This section will be updated.
- Points: 0
- Rebounds: 1
- Assists: 0
- Steals: 1
- Blocks: 0
- TOs: 0
- PF: 0
- FG: 0-2
- 3FG: 0-0
- FT: 0-0
Cooper Flagg live updates, highlights from Mavericks vs. Spurs
All times ET.
10:12 p.m. — Flagg’s first field goal attempt was almost an awesome alley-oop from Anthony Davis, but he couldn’t quite get the ball down. Dallas has an early 27-25 lead behind 10 points from Davis, while Wembanyama has eight for San Antonio.
Cooper Flagg almost had the greatest first bucket in NBA history pic.twitter.com/LkwiVmcPhd
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) October 23, 2025
9:50 p.m. — Cooper Flagg’s NBA debut is under way. He becomes the second-youngest player to start a game in his NBA debut, just two days older than LeBron James was.
The American Airlines Center erupted when Cooper Flagg’s name was called. pic.twitter.com/xO07pILGGL
— Ron Harrod Jr. (@RonKnowsSports) October 23, 2025
Cooper Flagg’s debut is UNDERWAY in Dallas! pic.twitter.com/tfFpnWiJ4a
— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2025
Pregame
9:29 p.m. — Flagg’s NBA debut is almost here. He’s officially the starting point guard.
COOPER FLAGG GETTING READY.
What do you expect from his NBA debut?? https://t.co/qGUBcESpqp pic.twitter.com/x3qsxxOtkt
— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2025
8:18 p.m. — The presumptive Mavs lineup that puts Flagg at point guard: Flagg, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II. Dallas is already starting its season with huge lineups.
Jason Kidd said that “the plan” is to go with the big starting lineup tonight.
This lineup includes:
– Cooper Flagg
– Klay Thompson
– P.J. Washington
– Anthony Davis
– Dereck Lively IIAll signs are pointing to Flagg starting at point guard. pic.twitter.com/YfHcisrpSv
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) October 22, 2025
8:17 p.m. — For those wondering about the patch on Flagg’s jersey tonight: it’s an “NBA Debut” patch that will only be present for his first game.
FIRST LOOK: Cooper Flagg’s official jersey for his NBA Debut tonight.
After the game, this NBA Debut patch will be removed from his jersey and placed into a 1-of-1 autographed trading card. pic.twitter.com/HjUGbmwuTz
— Topps (@Topps) October 22, 2025
8:15 p.m. — It may be getting lost in the Flagg-Wembanyama matchup, but a reminder: the top two picks in June’s NBA Draft are going head-to-head in their debuts tonight. Dylan Harper vs. Cooper Flagg will become the second time since 1966 that the top two picks in the same NBA Draft will face each other in the first career regular-season game for both players, according to the NBA.
The only other instance was Karl-Anthony Towns (No. 1) vs. D’Angelo Russell (No. 2) in Timberwolves vs. Lakers in October 2015.
8:14 p.m. — Here’s a look at Flagg’s arrival to his first regular season NBA game:
COOPER FLAGG HAS ARRIVED FOR HIS NBA DEBUT 🚨
Spurs/Mavs, 9:30pm/et, ESPN pic.twitter.com/UNKueRPJh4
— NBA (@NBA) October 22, 2025
8:12 p.m. — With the Mavericks being without Kyrie Irving to start the season, they’re already handing the offense over to Cooper Flagg. The 6-foot-9 rookie will officially be making his debut listed as the team’s point guard.
Don’t be surprised if the former Duke star initiates Dallas’ offense tonight.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd says Cooper Flagg will be officially listed as the Mavericks’ starting point guard tonight in his NBA debut against Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs and No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper. pic.twitter.com/bBaEZxgRhF
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 22, 2025
“[Cooper Flagg] is going to play a lot of point guard, probably start.” 👀@BannedMacMahon on Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks ahead of their season opener against the Spurs 🏀 pic.twitter.com/392rMSFq64
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 22, 2025
MORE COOPER FLAGG NEWS:
Where to watch Mavericks vs. Spurs
- Date: Wednesday, October 22
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: Fubo, ESPN+
Dallas will open the season at home, beginning the Cooper Flagg era. The Mavericks will host the San Antonio Spurs to begin the season. Tip-off from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas is set for 9:30 p.m. ET.
The game will air nationally on ESPN and will be available on ESPN+. Fubo also carries ESPN in its channel lineup and is offering a free trial.
Mavericks schedule 2025-26
Here is a look at the Mavericks’ next 10 games.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| Wednesday, Oct. 22 | vs. Spurs | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
| Friday, Oct. 24 | vs. Wizards | 8:30 p.m. | N/A |
| Sunday, Oct. 26 | vs. Raptors | 7:30 p.m. | N/A |
| Monday, Oct. 27 | vs. Thunder | 8:30 p.m. | N/A |
| Wednesday, Oct. 29 | vs. Pacers | 8:30 p.m. | N/A |
| Saturday, Nov. 1 | vs. Pistons* | 10 p.m. | Peacock |
| Monday, Nov. 3 | at Rockets | 8 p.m. | N/A |
| Wednesday, Nov. 5 | vs. Pelicans | 8:30 p.m. | N/A |
| Friday, Nov. 7 | at Grizzlies | 8 p.m. | N/A |
| Saturday, Nov. 8 | at Wizards | 7 p.m. | N/A |
*Game will be played in Mexico City
